TWO charities will receive £5,000 if staff from a Teesside company complete a tough challenge.

Eight employees, from Huntsman Polyurethanes, on Wilton International Site, are preparing to take part in the Coast to Coast cycle ride.

They expect to take three days to complete the 135-mile route from Whitehaven to Sunderland. Two are attempting to complete the course on tandem, with the rest of the group opting for mountain bikes.

If the employees are successful, Zoe's Place, in Normanby, and Beverley School and Service for Children with Autism, in Saltersgill, will share the cash raised through the team's sponsorship.

Ian Douglas, ride organiser and assistant mechanical engineer at the combined Huntsman companies, which together make up the world's largest privately held chemical company, said: "This is an excellent way to help local charities and also a great way to get fit.

"Huntsman work hard on stressing the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle, so this is going just that extra mile.

"The group have been preparing for this ride since the beginning of the year, taking safety as a high priority and also making sure we are all fit enough to complete the 135 miles."

"We would personally like to thank everyone who has sponsored the group, especially our contractors who have been especially generous."